Roy Strutt Photography

Stretching the ISO limits on the Canon 5Dmk2 with 135mm f2L

roystrutt — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:54:02 +0000

Canon enthusiasts are keenly awaiting news of the hopefully imminent 5D mK3 – In the meantime I conducted a simple example of how good the Mk2 is at high ISO in jpeg mode with an excellent portrait lens – the 135mm f2L
Ruth and Jemma are my models – lighting was a single 60 watt tungsten table lamp located about 10 feet from the girls
It was evening time with no natural light – the lens was set at f2.2 and ISO at 3200 (AV mode) we can see some noise but it adds to the atmostphere – white balance was auto and I then processed the images in Lightroom 3
This is where I also stretched the limits in using the colour temperature slider and the vibrance slider to get a moody look without an orange cast normally experienced with tungsten room lighting

I also used the Clarity slider in some of these images to give a softer skin presence to match the mood

If the 5Dmk2 is this good I am really looking forward to the enhancement the mk3 should bring !

Leica M9 with 50mm Summicron and the Canon 5D with 85mm f1.8 – Creativity by Lightroom

roystrutt — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:08:00 +0000

A winter shoot with Keira and Chloe to compare the above lenses – the 85mm f1.8 Canon on the 5D has always been a lightweight favorite of mine – stopped down to f2 or f2.2 it is very sharp for a £300 lens and the DOF is just right for portraiture – On the M9 the Summicron is not a portrait length lens but it just does an amazing job for its 30 year vintage
Some images straight from the cameras as Jpegs with the embedded profile in LR3 used on import – the softer images had some negative Clarity slider applied to give a glow
First the Summicron

Add some negative Clarity slider in Lightroom

Now the 85mm f1.8

Reportage and Documentary style Weddings – A variation

roystrutt — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:42:03 +0000

I have recently taken a fresh look at my style of wedding photography production and considered offering a reportage / documentary style only
After analysing six weddings shot during 2011 my style of photography certainly lends itself to documentary style but I often blend it with formal / classical wedding photography for the final production
This is a 2009 wedding – Alastair and Fiona – re-edited in Lightroom for documentary style only with an “edgy” feel
All Canon 5D MK2 – be sure to watch the Vimeo slideshow at the end

A new addition to the family – Hasselblad 500 ELM

roystrutt — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:56:49 +0000

I have just acquired a Hasselblad 500EL for an amazing price which I will start to use and compare with both a donated Rollieflex 120 camera and modern digital cameras
I need a lens for the Hasselblad so the eBay seraches are engaged

A also need to get used to buying film again and paying £20 for processing and hi res scanning (for 12 images)
This camera would have been one of the ultimate prize camera possessions in the 1970′s – watch this space !

Amy at UK Model Folios – London – Leica M9 – 50mm Summicron

roystrutt — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:32:17 +0000

During the formal shoot at UK Model Folios in London we used the Summicron 50mm f2 (version 3 dating back to around 1970 ) with the M9 for some classical portraiture of Amy – natural light with reflectors

Fuji X10 as a holiday camera

roystrutt — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:34:10 +0000

The Fuji X10 is shaping up as an ideal “holiday” camera if you have no serious or challenging assignments planned
I took the X10 and the X100 on this holiday to the USA – with fantastic sunrises and sunsets plus very bright midday sun the X10 did a great job
Here are some examples – all Aperture Priority at Auto ISO (1600) – Velvia film mode with some Fuji panoramas (very good)

A Fuji vertical panorama

A Saddleback Caterpillar

Tarpon Landings – Cape Coral

Fuji horizontal panorama

Gemma and Steve’s Wedding at Crondon Park

roystrutt — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:50:05 +0000

In mid December I photographed Gemma and Steve’s wedding with Molly Swain in the converted barn at Crondon Park, near Stock, Essex, UK
A bright but cold afternoon we used the Canon 5D mk2 with 24 – 70mm f2.8L and the Canon 550D with Tokina 50 135mm f2.8 mainly – at 1600 ISO to overcome the winter light and thence with diffused flash after sunset
Gemma and Steve were a very happy couple and the day was fantastic. This is a small selection and the photo highlights via Vimeo HD

Passionate about Pigs – FJ Bosworth & Sons

roystrutt — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:04:00 +0000

Last week I undertook a shoot for the UK Pig Farmer of the Year – Stuart Bosworth of FJ Bosworth & Sons
The farm is based in Willingale Essex UK and is a leading innovator and promoter of efficient pig farming with very high standards of stockmanship and environmental efficiency
These images show some of the pigs and piglets

This is the innovative “Rescue Deck”, the equivalent of a special care baby unit for piglets, close to their mother sow

Carol and Stuart Bosworth with some one day old piglets

Maeve from Scotland – Portraiture with the Fuji X10

roystrutt — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:36:32 +0000

This weekend I did a family portraiture shoot (impromptu) in Scotland – I travelled light and instead of the DSLR kit I just brought the Fuji X10
This is Maeve (16 months old) shot with the X10 close to a large picture window on a wintry day (some snow) in Perthshire Scotland
Auto ISO (set to upper limit of ISO 1600 and a minimum shutter speed of 1/100 – Aperture priority and generally wide open (f2 to f2.8 depending upon zoom focal length)- Velvia film mode
Post processing with LR3 (manual as no profile exists at the moment for the X10)

Fuji X10 for portraits vs Canon 5D MK2 with 135mm f2L

roystrutt — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:27:10 +0000

During a family portrait session today using the excellent Canon 135mm f2L I experimented with the Fuji X10 to do a comparison

This is the Canon at f2.2 ISO 1600 jpeg

and this is the Fuji X10 – aperture priority – Velvia film mode zoomed into approx 112mm (35mm equivalent) at f2.8 – both in natural window light

Very impressive showing by the X10 versus one of the best portrait lenses on offer by Canon